We Ranked The 4 Best 40 Inch TVs

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Evan Shephard
Updated Mar 11, 2024 3:44 PM
best 40 inch tv guide that shows the top best tv model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

The best 40-inch TVs are ideal for spaces like dorm rooms, RVs, kitchens, and can also serve well as computer monitors in some setups. Our guide is meticulously devised based on thorough test data, covering a wide price range to ensure you find a model within your budget, from cost-effective to premium options. This ensures that despite the smaller selection, you don’t have to compromise on quality or value to choose the best TV for your needs.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking for advanced features, our test data-driven recommendations make it easier to choose a 40-inch TV that fits your space and meets your needs with excellence.

How Did We Rank the 40 Inch TVs?

To assess how high or low quality a 40-inch TV is, one must evaluate specific testing criteria against reference industry standards. Using our thorough TV Testing Methodology, we determined there are 1 minimum specs and 6 criteria below (3 required, 3 nice to have) that ensure your 40 inch TV looks as good as the creator intended it.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Size: 43″ or 44″, offering sufficient screen space without dominating your environment.

? Test Criteria

  • SDR Brightness: Must meet or exceed 300 nits to deliver vivid visuals in standard dynamic range.
  • HDR Brightness: Achieve a minimum of 700 nits for breathtaking detail and contrast in high dynamic range scenes.
  • Color Accuracy: Ensure a color gamut of at least 90% DCI P3 xy for true-to-life colors.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Contrast Ratio: Strive for a minimum contrast ratio of 10,000:1 to enjoy deep blacks and stunning highlights.
  • EOTF Accuracy: Maintain a delta of no more than 0.018 for precise brightness and contrast in HDR content.
  • Fast Response Time: Aim for a response time of 15ms or less to keep transitions smooth and seamless.

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from over 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics to rank the top rated 40-inch TVs. Testing data and specs include brightness between 300 nits and 700 nits, color accuracy of Minimum 90% DCI P3 color gamut, and a screen size of 40″. Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. Commissions fund this mission. No bias. No BS.

Latest Updates

  • 03/11/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest 40-inch TVs.
  • 11/29/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

Top 40 Inch TVs For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

For the best 40-inch TVs, they must be 40 inches and handle glare well. Otherwise, they’re out!

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Sony A90K OLED TV

    Ideal for cinematic and gaming experiences in dimly lit rooms, the A90K excels in color accuracy and contrast, though its higher input lag suits more casual gamers.

    Sony A90K OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    85
    86
    7

    Experts

    94
    1k

    Customers

    SAVE $2
    $1,299.99
    $1,298.00

    Category Snapshot

    TVs

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      17 Brands, 158 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      LG, Hisense

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $400-$2000

    • Average True Score

      76.65

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

    • Recommended Retailer

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

    • Test Methodology

      TV Testing Methodology

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG C3 OLED TV

    • Best For Home Theater

    With the best value, excellent color accuracy, and superior gaming performance, the C3 is versatile, favoring bright rooms and competitive gaming.

    LG C3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    85
    86
    9

    Experts

    93
    13k

    Customers

    SAVE $400
    $1,296.99
    $896.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series

    The brightest option for well-lit environments, offering vivid colors and a solid performance for casual gaming and sports, ideal for HDR content enthusiasts.

    Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series Review →

    True Score

    85
    86
    9

    Experts

    92
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $402
    $1,499.99
    $1,097.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG Flex OLED TV

    A unique, flexible display offering immersive gaming and cinematic experiences with good color accuracy and response time, albeit at a premium price.

    LG Flex OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    83
    84
    2

    Experts

    90
    10

    Customers

    SAVE $800
    $2,499.99
    $1,699.99

Our Approach to Testing 40-inch TVs

Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like brightness (SDR and HDR), EOTF, response time, contrast ratio and color gamut.

We collect this data so you don’t have to, simple as that. We then average that testing data to represent that product’s capabilities accurately. Subsequently, we then leverage that data, filter and sort our buying guides, ensuring that all the products on our guides meet the strict requirements for your use case, such as ensuring smooth gaming experiences with fast response times and vibrant visuals tailored for gaming immersion.

You may notice some of our graphs contain “Source: RTings”. This is to indicate that the data we’re showing off in a graph has come from a single source – because it’s the only source that actually tested the criteria and had data for it! Normally, our data is an average out of all of the various publications that test and provide data to give you a good idea of how a product is going to perform on average.

Which Criteria Matters for Testing 40 Inch TVs?

By focusing on these criteria (3 required, 4 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these TVs and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a TV that will fit into your small or tight space.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
SDR Brightness300+ nitsYesAssess the luminance of your display when operating in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) mode.
HDR Brightness1000+ nitsYesDetermine the luminance of your display in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)>= 90%YesEvaluate the extent to which a TV can reproduce a specified spectrum of colors.
EOTF0.018No (nice to have)Standard that governs how a display interprets and renders brightness and color.
Response Time<=10msNo (nice to have)Time required for a pixel to transition from one color to another and then return to its original color.
Contrast Ratio>= 10,000No (nice to have)The ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen can display.

Our Trusted Data Sources

(Publication category Score is 80%+)

We looked at 210+ TV reviewers and while 24 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Rating above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.

  1. Evan Shepard – Gadget Review
  2. Matthew Lopes – RTings, MuckRack
  3. Will Greenwald – PCMag, MuckRack, Twitter
  4. David Katzmaier – CNET, MuckRack, Twitter

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every TV review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Best 40 Inch TV’s Test Data & Results

1. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

In well-lit rooms, the brightness level of your 40-inch TV, quantified in nits, is key to a great viewing experience. A TV that doesn’t meet the brightness requirement will struggle against natural and artificial light, resulting in a dim, lackluster image. Essentially, nits measure how well your TV can stand up to light interference, with higher values ensuring a sharper, more vivid display.

For standard viewing on the best 40-inch TV, you should look for at least 300 nits to strike the right balance between clarity and color quality in standard dynamic range (SDR) content. For high dynamic range (HDR) content, which offers richer colors and greater contrast, a minimum of 700 nits is ideal to truly appreciate the enhanced visuals. These brightness levels are recommended to ensure your TV performs well in bright settings, allowing you to enjoy your shows and movies without any loss in detail or quality. Aim for these minimums: SDR Brightness >= 300 nits; HDR Brightness >= 700 nits for the optimal experience.

Discover the top 40-inch TVs, ranked from brightest to least, all exceeding our brightness criteria.

SDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

HDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

2. Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy) TV Test Results

Color gamut defines the range of colors a TV can reproduce, directly affecting how vibrant and true-to-life the images look. A wide color gamut in a 40-inch TV brings out richer, more vivid colors – from the lush greens of a garden to the bright colors of animated characters, enhancing your viewing experience to closely mimic real life.

This concept is technically measured against standards like the DCI P3 xy, a benchmark for high-quality visuals. A 40-inch TV covering a higher percentage of this color space can display colors more accurately and vividly.

For those who prioritize vibrant and immersive visuals in a smaller package, aiming for a 40-inch TV with a color gamut of 90% or higher on the DCI P3 xy scale is ideal. This ensures that the content you watch is as vibrant and lifelike as possible, bringing a big viewing experience to a smaller screen. Below is all the TVs on this guide sorted by best to least in Color Gamut.

Below are the top 40-inch TVs, ordered by color gamut, all exceeding our testing criteria.

DCI P3 XY Color Gamut (as a %; high is better)

3. EOTF Test Results

The Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF) plays a critical role in ensuring the content on your TV looks exactly as the creator intended. This technical feature adjusts your screen’s brightness levels, ensuring every scene, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights, is displayed with true-to-life accuracy.

In rooms flooded with light, a TV that nails EOTF calibration shines by preserving the intended contrast and detail in the picture despite the challenging conditions. It balances the brightness so that images remain vibrant and full of detail, unaffected by the glare of ambient light.

A TV that excels in managing EOTF offers an immersive and authentic viewing experience. It brings creators’ visions to life, accurately rendering every scene with the proper light and dark levels, no matter the lighting in your room. This means you get a consistent, realistic picture that captures the full spectrum of colors and contrasts, from the subtlest hues to the most intense explosions. Below is all the TVs on this guide sorted from best to worst in EOTF.

Below are all the 40-inch TVs on our list, ordered by EOTF, all exceeding our minimum requirement.

EOTF (source: rtings.com – 0 = no data exists; lower is better)

4. Response Time TV Test Results

A slow response time on a 40-inch TV during fast-paced scenes is like trying to watch a thrilling movie with a foggy lens. Imagine settling in for an action-packed sequence, only to have the swift movements turn into a blur, robbing you of the crisp, clear detail you crave. This isn’t just a minor annoyance; it’s a major detriment to your viewing experience, leaving you with a picture marred by motion blur and visual artifacts.

So, what exactly is response time? It measures how quickly a pixel on your TV can change from one color to another. In the context of watching fast-moving content or enjoying dynamic scenes on a TV, a low response time is crucial. A response time of 15 ms or lower is good, but if you plan on gaming on this set, aim for a response time of 10 ms or lower. At these levels, your 40-inch TV ensures smooth transitions and sharp visuals, making every scene come to life without any distracting blurs or delays.

Below are the top small TVs, ordered by response time.

Response Time (in milliseconds; lower is better)

5. Contrast Ratio Test Results

For TV enthusiasts, a solid contrast ratio is crucial for enjoying your favorite TV shows or movies, especially in darker settings. This feature directly impacts how lifelike and dynamic the picture appears on your screen, ensuring that dark scenes are displayed with clear, crisp blacks instead of murky grays and bright scenes retain their detail without appearing washed out.

Put simply, the contrast ratio is all about the range of luminance a TV can produce, from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites. It’s what brings depth to the image, enhancing the realism of every scene. Watching a movie in the dark, for example, the difference between a TV with a poor contrast ratio and one with a high ratio is stark: the former struggles, blending shadows into a flat gray, while the latter delivers true black, making night scenes more immersive and detailed.

Ideally, a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 is what you should aim for in a 40-inch TV. This level of luminance variance ensures that you’re getting a picture quality that can handle the nuances of lighting in any scene, providing a viewing experience that’s both rich and engaging. Note: OLED TVs have infinite contrast ratio, indicated by “0.”

Below are the top 40-inch TVs, ordered by contrast ratio, all exceeding our testing criteria.

Contrast Ratio (higher is better)

40 Inch TVs: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Neglecting Viewing Distance: Viewing distance is critical for comfortable viewing, especially with smaller TVs like the top 32-inch TVs or 40-inch models. Ensuring an appropriate viewing distance for your TV’s size prevents eye strain and enhances the overall viewing experience. The same applies to larger screens; ensuring the ideal viewing distance for the best 50-inch TV is essential to achieve a balance between screen size and viewer comfort, enhancing immersion in the content you’re viewing.

  2. Overlooking Compatibility: Checking compatibility with existing devices is essential to avoid connectivity issues. A 40-inch TV ensures seamless integration with gaming consoles, streaming devices, and sound systems, which is crucial for uninterrupted entertainment. For gamers, check out our guide to the best gaming TVs. And if you’ve already bought a soundbar, read our guide on how to connect a soundbar to your TV.

  3. Ignoring Lighting Conditions: Considering room lighting conditions is key to optimizing picture quality. Adequate brightness and anti-glare features are particularly important for 40-inch TVs placed in areas with varying light conditions, like living rooms or bedrooms. Lighting consideration is equally important for curved TVs, as their unique shape can reflect light differently, affecting the viewing experience in well-lit rooms.

  4. Fixating Solely on Screen Size: While screen size is important, focusing only on it overlooks other crucial features. With 40-inch TVs, considering factors like resolution, refresh rate, and smart TV capabilities ensures a well-rounded entertainment experience tailored to your needs.

The Best 40 Inch TV Tests Compared

Product
True Score
SDR Brightness
HDR Barightness
Color Gamut
EOTF
Response Time
Contrast Ratio

Sony A90K OLED TV

  • Best for 50-inch

85
  • 288 nits

  • 593 nits

  • 99.38%

  • 0.004

  • 3 ms

  • 0

$1,298.00
$1,300
$2

LG C3 OLED TV

  • Best for Sports

85
  • 383 nits

  • 795 nits

  • 98.98%

  • 0.0056

  • 2.3 ms

  • 0

$896.99
$1,297
$400

Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series

  • Best for Home Theater

85
  • 1,289 nits

  • 1,923 nits

  • 93.34%

  • 0.0046

  • 10.2 ms

  • 83,200:1

$1,097.99
$1,500
$402

LG Flex OLED TV

  • Best for LG

83
  • 374 nits

  • 738 nits

  • 97.92%

  • 0.0028

  • 2.5 ms

  • 0

$1,699.99
$2,500
$800

40-inch TV Questions (FAQ)

Is a 40-inch TV a good size?

A 40-inch TV is a decent size. Samsung recommends that, for crowded rooms, you should opt for at least a 40-inch display if you’re sitting more than six feet away from the TV.

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